Method of forming pneumatic tires.



Patented luly 3|, |900. G. KNADLER.

METHOD 0F FORMING PNEUMATIC TIRES.

(Appucti mea oet. 2, 1899.

(No Modem' 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

WTN BEBES Gogmg nadlw m: noms` FUER? ca. moro-uma, wAsmNaToN. o. c,

Patented July 3|, |900. G. KNADLEB. METHOD 0F FUBMING'PNEUMATIC TIRES (Nolpdel.) (Applietion med o' 2' 189m' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2l j E fg.' 7.

TH: :mams PETERS co, Pnoovumu. WASHING-ron, n. c.

l No. 654,900. Patented luly 3i, |900.l

G. KNADLER. METHOD 0F FORMING PNEUMATIC TIRES.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

("0 Model.)

WITNE55E5 No. 054,900. Patnte July 3i, |900.

- 0. KNADLER. METHP DF FORMING PNEUMATIC TIRES.

Y (Application led Oct. 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shset 4,

INVENTDR WITNEEEEE;

NITED STAT-Es PATENT GFEICE.

GoD'rREY KNADLEraoF PEOEIA Inninois, nssIeNoE on SEVENEIGHTHS To ALToN e. sEIBERLiNG AND CHARLES J. BUTLER, or SAME PLACE.

METHOD oF FoRMlNG PNEUMATI'C TIRES.;

srncrnon'rron ftrming para or Letters Patent No. 654,900, dated .me e1, ieoo'. Application and october 2,1899. semina. 732,362. (No man.)

To all whom it may cop/cern:

Beit known that I, GODFEEY KNADLER, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Forming Pneumatic Tires; and I do hereby declare that the followin gis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to pneumatic tires and method for constructing the same.

The object of the presentinvention is to make a practically endless tire, or, in other words, the object is to so construct a tire that there will be no point in its length that can become weakened or break under pressure of the air contained therein or by the riders weight. y

Furthermore, the object is to employ a method of construction that will be cheaper, require less time in the manufacture of the tire, and need the attention of only one workman in the operation.

Ordinarily tires of this clsss are made in straight lengthshas, for instance, in making hose-pipe. These lengths are then telescoped into each other at the ends or by means of an interior or exterior bushing, which forms a connection between the ends'. As is well known, the time required in making these tires, the expensive machinery necessary, and the various hands through which the tire must pass in its various phases make Athetire expensive. Furthermore, when ,such tiresa're put on the road and subjected to the various degrees of pressure and wear that they/ must inevitably encounter they very often break at the joined ends, be they ever so carefully connected. Knowing these facts as Ido the tire hereinafter described and the process for constructing it have been devised.

In the appended drawings, Figure l is a perspectiveview of a drum or former upon which the tire is built, showing a rubber fabric portion spread thereon. Fig. la shows a pad used between thedrum or pulley and the tire while the latter-is being made. Fig. 2 is `shown in Fig. la.

a face view of the pulley or drum, showing same material spread thereon as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is the same, but showing arub- .ber strip superimposed on the fabric. Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3, but enlarged to better show the tire portion and the method of forming same into a tube. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a core or former used in the operation shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of the pulley ordrum shown in the preceding figures, with a space left between the pulley4 and tire occasioned by the pad Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the partiallydinished tire. Fig. 8 shows the tire as it appears after being folded together in the manner indicated in Fig. 4 while still on the pulley. Fig. V9 is a strip of fabric which is applied to the tire after it is formed as in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is the pulley and tire, showing the fabric, Fig. 9, being applied thereto. Fig. ll is a View of the pulley-face and the tire inflated in dotted lines with the fabric, Figs. 8 and 10, showing position of the completed tire in full lines. Fig. 12 is a View of the completed tire, and Fig. 13 is a crosssection of the same. In the several figures, a is a pulley or drum mounted on a suitable stud b and free to turn thereon. Such pulley is slotted across the greater part of its face at o to permit the entrance and exit of the valvestem of the tire during the several manipulations of the latter. f Upon the pulleys face, covering the slot c, is a pad d, upon which the tire is laid in passing around Vthe pulley, as shown in Figsrl, 2, and 3. j

The first operation in making the tire consists in employing a strip A of what is known to the trade as friction fabric, which consists of canvas covered or filled with crude rubber to make it tacky as well as for vulcanizing purposes. Such strip is cut at an angle at each end, and, for example, is started at the pad d and laid entirely around the'face of the pulley, the opposite end being overlapped upon the starting end and struck down by means of the rubber coating referred to. Then a strip of rubber B is placed over the angling joint of the fabric, as at Figs. 1, 2,

scribed. Thesecond important step consists: in laying `upon the fabricA a strip of rubber D, the ends of which are also cut at an angle" much inthe samemanne'r as the said fabric,

the ends beingoverlapped, as shownin Fig.

3 at e, and one edge thereof is laid flush, or

lsubstantially so, with the Outer edge of* mm. Strip C- The latter thusprotects the strip D from the edge of fabric A, as is obvious.- The strip D does not cover vthe fabric A'entirely; butthis is not important. The only requisite, however, is that the rubberstripD must @be iwideen'ough to overlap itself when folded i'lnto tubular form. The valve-stem is noW` jinserted at 'E by merely using a hollow punch yorotller suitable implementand making' an aperture through the'fa'bric A and therrub# ber stripD v'at the point desired,throughwh'ic'h Athefstem is inserted. The rubber disk, at the basefofthe stem, 'is merely pressed firmly' down onto 'the rubber, to which it adheres. -An vaperture Fis'made opposite thestem andj isplaced over such stem in the next opera-v Fig. '4;s'ho`ws the tire Whenconstructed.'

tion. asdescribed and the manner of forming same into :a tube. ,container whencompleted, as will be 'presently understood. I next fold vone edge of -the"=tireover .the other, vasindi'cated vin 4Fi-g. 4,:'andfaccomplish this by .employing a core" 1G, LFig. 5 which I place .at about the middle, yof vthe'rubb'erstrip and then fold over the 'This bri-ugs 1 the Lval-ve -stem uppermost, and after this; edge fis completely turned the 'opposite onef .fed ge havin g the stripClthereon.

`is ffolded over =upon it, and the 4saidstem is `pushed through the aperture'F. fWhen. the latteredge is lturne`d,it is 'rmly'pressed 'down upon the imaterial beneath 'it vand the 4two "portions adhere perfectly. It -mayfbe` said llifn passing :that 4:before the folding proc- -ess' isundergonetherubber strip? D is dusted with `soapstone `or Alike material to prevent adhesion of the partsduring the several manipulations. '-ltl-willbe-seenfthat the righthand-edge of the rubber-stripD and fabric A extends to the left beyond the-stripC'and vadheres to -the koutside surface of the said 'fabricA l "Thefcross-sectional -view Fig. f7, shows -this, wherein D :is shown fdevoid of. Vcrosshatching R5to give .contrast to the parts? Iti-sobservedthat `the core YGrsizes theftire,

Ior, Ainotherwords, fisof suchra .cross-section Aspthe itireis folded along itsllengthfthecore isdgradualliyvpulled V"out 1and drawn farther -alongfon thelstillfopen :portions -untilfatflastY formed is ready for a iinalouter fabric covering H, which consists of a strip of friction fabric cutat an angle at each end and perforated fat one point neary the edge to pass over'the valve-stem and marked or scored at D as a guide for a reinforcing-strip J. Said fabric H is located about as ,shown in Fig. 10 as regards its edge and is continued entirely Aaround the tire and lapped, as already de- -scribed.. The line I merely `forms av guidingline for said stripA J, as above outlined, in order that the flatter may be evenlyattached. 'This operation is undertaken after the edge of `the fabric is placed as shown gin sai-d Fig. `10, after which the tire is *ind-ated partially and appearsthen as in Fig. 11 in broken lines. Just here may be explained 'the use of the pad d shown in the "first ffou-r figures Lof :the drawings. 'Its pu-rpose, as -well as =that of `covering theslot'c-and forming a solid ibase to Work on, 'is .primarily Ato slightly lengthen the tire, so that when -sulch 4pad -is removed and the tireinflated, as described, the natural shortening of lthe'latter at the drum, d neto such inflation, uwill not besui'- iicient to cause the tire togrip'vthe' l illley,and

it can .therefore be easilyv moved. thereon. The .rubber strip D is the kair-g llution laterally-#carrying `thel valve-:stem

`downthrough-theslotc-in thepu'lley andout again in a gyratingmotion, asfin-'dicated 'by therdarts,`to the-position mentioned, Duri-ng this movement the fabric-has .beenlaid on 4thorouglil--yfreeof lwrinkles, the outenedge reaching beyond the inner one, but remaining 1at fthebase-of the tire. The completed tire" is shown in lFig. V12, a" crossfsectiorbeing 'IOO IIO

shownfin lFig. l3,-in'whichthereinforcedstrip p J :is shown onthe ftreadandthe'various Ilayers initheir-relative positions. When removed vfrom the=-pulley and vulcanizedjinr the usual y Way, 'the tir-e 'is-ready 4"for use.

WVliileIh-ave fdescribed detail the V{varivous'maneu vers in makingthetir'e, ldesire `to ystatethat'fImayuseother means of accomplishing-the ends sought. "I may-notsuse the the edge o'fthe fabric A, though-their-fuse-is attended with possibly.betterlresults= V"The `exact position or ,width ofkth-erubberStIipD `not importantfbut:theproportionl-shovniis f convenient .land answers every purpose II haveshownthe endsfoffthe fabric A cut fat fan angle, but'gl dofnot intend to limit myself vtoathat =particularfform. "The points ofi division in the several strips are separated from .each other and are preferably distributed around the tire, so that no two joints will coincide. I desire to make it fully understood that in making the tire by lapping the ends of thevvarious layers a practically-endless tube is formed, since after vulcanizing the joints are thoroughly sealed and made as strong as any uncut portion thereof. Various sizes of the tire may be constructed by using cores of varying cross-section. As much reinforcing material may be added to the strip H before it is rolled upon the tire as is desired to make a longer-lasting tire and one less easily punctured, and, on the other hand, none need be used When a racingtire is Wanted. Obviously, the fabric A and rubber strip B may be laid on one another before forming the tire on the drum. Thus I am not limited to any fixed method of making such tire. The making of tires by my method is really moresimple and more easily done than the description here given would imply, and the tire produced is as perfect as can be made. The expensive machinery and experienced help usually necessary in making pneumatic tires are rendered Wholly unnecessary. A novice can make a complete and perfect tire as well as an expert, and the time consumed is much less than by the older processes. Furthermore, the maker of .the tire is responsible individually for the Work he performs, Whereas heretofore Where several Workers were necessary in completing a tire a fault found in the completed article could not be traced to the proper person With certainty.

I am not aware of a tire constructed as mine is, nor do I know of a method such as I describe for making a tire of the character described.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The herein-described method of forming tires which consists in spreadingr a strip of suitable tire fabric in circumferential form, uniting the ends thereof, superimposing a strip of rubber upon the fabric strip, folding the edges of one over the other to form a tube, substantially as set forth, then attaching a second fabric strip to the tube and finally rolling the tube along the drum to cause the fabric to adhere to it for the purposes set forth.

2. The herein-described method of forming tires of the character described which consists in spreading a strip of-suitable fabric circumferentially, uniting the ends thereof,

superimposing on said fabric a strip of rub-` ber, uniting the ends of the latter, folding the parallel edges of the united fabric and rubber one over the other to form atube, substantially as described, attaching a second fabric strip to the tube thus constructed, thenV partially inflating the tube and rolling same upon the drum to Wrap the fabric upon it and finally vulcanizing the finished tire.

3. The herein-described method of forming tires of the character described which constrip, superimposing a strip of rubber upon` said fabric substantially as set forth, folding the Ylatter edge over, folding the opposite edge over upon that to form a tube, then attaching a second fabric covering to the tube and lastly vulcanizing the tire.

4. The hereindescribed method of constructing pneumatic tires which consists in first spreading a strip of 4fabric in circumferential form, uniting the ends thereof, superimposing a strip of rubber upon such fabric, uniting the ends thereof, folding the parallel edges of the united strips over to form a tube and finally applying a fabric covering to the tube and vulcanizing the finished product.

5. The method of forming pneumatic tires which consists in connecting the two ends of a strip of fabric, forming the body of the tire, such strip having adhered thereto a strip of rubber also united at its ends, the latter to form an air-container for the finished tire, folding one of the circumferential edges of each of the strips thus adhered over their other edges to form a tube and finally vulcanizing the tube so formed.

6. A method of forming pneumatic tires consisting in arranging a strip of tire fabric to form a ring, uniting its ends, adhering a strip of rubber to the outer surface thereof, uniting the ends thereof and lastly folding a circumferential edge of both the fabric strip and rubber strip over upon their opposite.

edges to form a tube for the purposes set forth.

7. A method of forming pneumatic tires consisting in arranging a strip of tire fabric to form a ring at its ends, adhering to the outer surface thereof a strip of rubber, unit- IOO IIO

the ends of united strips of fabric and rubber, overlapping the longitudinal edges thereof to form a tube, covering the tube with a final protecting-strip, uniting the latter at its ends and overlapping its longitudinal edges all substantially as described and finally vulcanizing the finished tire for the purposes set forth.

` 9. A method of forming pneumatic tires consisting in connecting the ends of a strip of rubber-coated fabric to form a circular band adhering a strip of rubber to the outer surface of the fabric and overlapping its ends substantially as set forth to form an air-conedges of the united fabric and rubber over '13o tainer in the nished tire, then folding the zi esin ilperifeach other to form c'o'nripletie eilless the same fao enfirey' eoie asXd-escbedmid lr6 tube and finally vulcanzing the same. j l jinally vulcaniznglthe nishfed tire.'

10. Amejtrhqd of ferming pneumatic tires Iutestim'ony WhereofI affix my Sigsnature .Censisting vin forming a band,for ring,- witl1 in lpresence ef tw witnesses.- '5' .the elements v3o n1plisvl1lr theltre'unitng the "reildsand edges ftllerjeofb to form an endless y.tu-be adhering afn outer pl'rQteotng-cverng Witnesses:

.thereto by parliauyinatringhfe me andpous. Q; vGASS'ELL,

ingr-it upon a bandvof covering fabric to lcause GEO'. SEIBERLING. j 

